Scroll through today's top 10 Big Ten headlines

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 4 years ago

Scroll through today's top 10 Big Ten headlines

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 4 years ago

UConn’s win last night showed how good Michigan State could have been. Don’t follow? Well, it’s about guard play. The Huskies rolled to the title behind the backcourt tandem of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright. The Spartans had a similarly skilled backcourt in Keith Appling and Gary Harris.

But the duo rarely was healthy in tandem this season. And, that proved fatal in the end. First, it was Harris’ ankle. Then, it was Appling’s wrist. Oh, what could have been …

This Wisconsin team that went 30-8 and reached the Final Four may have forever changed the perception of Badgers basketball. Why not Wisconsin? Why can’t the Badgers win a national title and consistently compete with nation’s elite? Why not, indeed.

“Overall, Freddy’s had a really good spring,” coach Brady Hoke said. “He’s come in with a great maturity that you don’t see with a lot of guys that come in early … Part of that is his development at his school, his development at his home life. Freddy is very talented.”

Canteen could be the remedy for an offense that lost go-to wideout Jeremy Gallon.

Punter Alex Butterworth is gone and there are no scholarship punters on the roster. Franklin praised kicker Sam Ficken for his work this spring but Ficken struggled down the stretch last fall, missing three of his last four kicks. For the season, Ficken connected on 15 of 23 tries but he was just 4 of 9 from 40-plus yards. Want more? OK. The Lions’ returners did not produce a touchdown last season and kickoff returners averaged just 19.1 yards per attempt. In addition, PSU’s kickoff coverage team allowed two returns for scores.

On the subject of Ohio, the Buckeyes will write checks totaling over $2 million in guarantees to 2014 non-conference foes Virginia Tech, Kent State and Cincinnati. On another note, OSU will get $850,000 to play vs. Navy at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on Aug. 30.

Nebraska may have something in LB Marcus Newby, who is becoming a pass-rush specialist. He’s a terrific athlete off the edge similar to Demorrio Williams. You remember him, Nebraska fans, right? Imagine Newby and Randy Gregory coming off the edges next fall.

***

Finally, there is this from new Rutgers’ athletic director Julie Hermann, who a few weeks ago told a journalism class that it “would be great” if the Newark Star-Ledger went out of business. That’s nice. Let’s just say Hermann isn’t excelling at winning and influencing people. Oh, this is just the latest incident involving Hermann that has raised eyebrows. You can’t make this stuff up, people. Read all about it here. Warning: Prepare to shake your head in amazement.

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I'm waiting this game out to see Cal Poly's snippet in the "One Shining Moment" montage.